In what amounts to a salary cap move, the Rams are going to release left guard Jacob Bell tomorrow. He was scheduled to make $6 million for the 2011 season.
Bell was a big-splash signing for then-new GM Billy Devaney three years ago - 6 years, $36 million - but never really lived up to the big money. He was competent, and graded out well in pass protection last year, but was always a bit undersized, a bit underweight and got manhandled too often in the running game. How many times was he the one who got Steven Jackson tackled last season, or was even the guy who tripped him up by getting knocked down in the hole?
I'd describe Bell as more of a technician, and the Rams have made it clear today they're going the mauler route. Harvey Dahl's obviously starting at right guard, and I'd expect big John Greco to move in at left guard. Adam Goldberg's potential to stay with the team brightens up quite a bit as the backup to those spots. The Rams aren't going to let themselves get pushed around any more.
Bell by all accounts is a solid guy and a good teammate, and he was involved in a good amount of community work, so it's regrettable he has to leave this way. I don't doubt we'll very easily be seeing him again sometime soon. For instance, the Cardinals have a ton of issues on their offensive line. I doubt he'll be out of an NFL job for long.
Photo: St. Louis Rams
-$-
No comments:
Post a Comment